SPRING PRACTICE PERIOD: Stories from the Lotus Sutra

Dogen-Zenji so cherished the Lotus Sutra that he actually carved a selection of it into his door. This, the core text of not only Zen but the whole of Mahayana Buddhism, has never lost its appeal among practitioners of the Way. Join us for our SPRING PRACTICE PERIOD: Stories From the Lotus Sutra led by Sensei Joshin Byrnes, Sensei Genzan Quennell

What is the ground that gives us the freedom to make the new future? ..."The stilling of inclinations, the relinquishing of bases, the fading away of reactivity, desirelessness, stopping, nirvana." Nirvana is that space within ourselves that’s not inflected or determined by our impulses, habits, reactivity, and so on, and that allows the possibility of another way of life which is called the Eightfold Path…

EDITOR'S NOTE

As Uchiyama Roshi wrote about beautifully, "Opening the hand of thought," is at the heart of zazen. In a dharma talk, Stephen Batchelor teaches about relinquishing reactivity, desire, and inclination, and how the freedom of the mind-state of nirvana becomes possible.

ROSHI JOAN

Roshi is in personal retreat and leaves for San Francisco early Thursday. She will be presenting a talk on compassion at Wisdom 2.0 on the mainstage. She is working on a new book, and as well is engaged in an intensive teaching schedule this late winter. She returns to Upaya on Monday next week, and will teaching the GRACE training with collaborators Drs. Tony Back and Cynda Rushton.

STEPHEN BATCHELOR ON THE GROUND OF AWAKENING

Another key term is the word ground. Again this is not a widely used terminology in Buddhism-in some schools it is-the word in Pali is tumnum. It literally means ground, foundation. This term is central because it actually is the way the Buddha described his awakening.

SANGHA EVENTS

The Upaya Caring Committee is now going to be called Upaya Caring Connections. It is a group of local Upaya community members who volunteer to offer light care and support during health or family challenges. Upaya Caring Connections will help provide rides, meals, visits, and shopping to local sangha members who need some assistance. For more information, contact Lorraine Schechter.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST ANIMAL CRUELTY

The bill to ban traps and animal poisoning on public land in New Mexico, HB 426, is getting its first committee hearing in the House Ag/water/wildlife committee Friday, February 27, 8 a.m. Attend this hearing to show your support: Room 307, The State Capitol Building, 490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM

There are other animal protection bills you can find out about from APV.org (Animal Protection Voters).